Jerk City

Time Out says

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Time Out says

In a rapidly changing world, Jerk City’s short but punchy menu of Caribbean classics is reassuringly consistent.

Jerk City takes the idea of not changing a winning formula maybe a little too far. We’d say the menu hasn’t changed in years, but it’s more likely that it hasn’t changed since the place opened.

The decor and furnishings still feel like the student-flat section of an Ikea showroom. And the prices would still appeal to most students, though on a busy weekday lunchtime – the best time to come – the clientele is less uni, more workers after a taste of home-cooking.

And they get it: this is proper Caribbean food on a menu that’s short but delivers. Choose from chicken (jerk, barbecue, brown stew or curry), curried mutton, oxtail, peppered steak, ackee and saltfish, stewed fish, roti (chicken, mutton, prawn or veg) or rice and peas. Jerk chicken comes, unusually, with a sauce rather than barbecued, but was extremely tasty, while mutton curry had the requisite richness and deep flavour produced by a well-sourced curry powder (the base of a West Indian curry, rather than the individual and separate spice flavours you would expect of an Indian curry).

When everything around Wardour Street is changing so fast, there’s something reassuring about Jerk City’s refusal to move with the times.

If you only do fine dining/tablecloths, then this isnt for you, which is a shame, as very good food. Five of us went for dinner after a drink last week. While one of the starters had finished, the owner said he would make a plate up of food for us. Mains came and were hot, tasty and flavoursome. We got chattting to staff and with the relaxed atmosphere, this is just a lovely place to sit and eat. Highly recommend it, just dont expect michelin star, but expect to be fed, watered and full up with jamaican food, for just a handful of pounds. The Guinness Punch is just wonderful.

I have been to this restaurant twice this week, I visited on saturday and yesterday and I must say their service has improved greatly compare to when I was first introduced to Jerk city in 2006. 20 seconds after payment my food was on my table, I was served by a lady called Leah she was so polite and made us feel comfortable. The food was great, its not for everyone but for those who like to step out their comfort zone